Machine for plating articles in mass



4 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 1, 1928 IN VEN T0125;

6Z1! eZZe lltse ywn ATORNE Y?) G. L. KELLEY ET AL 1,841,038 'MACHINEf'OR PLATING ARTICLES IN MASS Jan 12, 1932.

Filed June 1, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTORS: Gear eflftell andGwc7113?! (an A RNE Jan. 12, 1932. G. L. KELLEY ET AL I MACHINE FOR PLATING ARTICLES IN MASS 4 sheets-sheet Filed June 1, 1928 'IN VEN TORS.

7 TO:RNEY.

Geog? drzdaaro as 2- G. 1.. KELLEY ET AL MACHINE FOR PLATING ARTICLES IN MASS Filed June 1, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR3 y and 1'06 GeOyeZZKLCe zzflllt'sfy ATTORNEfi Patented Jan. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE L. KELLEY AND CAROLUS L. EKSERGIAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO BUDD WHEEL COMPANY, OF FHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA MACHINE FOB PLATING ARTIGLES IN MASS Application filed .Tune 1, 1928. Serial No. 282,259.

The articles which the machine of our invention is especially adapted to plate are nuts for through threaded fastenings, particularly cap nuts used on the studs of automobile wheel hubs for the purpose of securing thereon demountable wheels. These cap nuts are commonly provided with conically tapered or spherical engaging faces of a diameter somewhat exceeding the perimeter of the flat faced portion of the nut. The relative small size of nuts of this character, together with their asymmetrical. form, renders them unusually difficult to plate. This, coupled with the quantity production in which they are manufactured, renders individual treatment such as is frequently given articles of large size and less quantity, difficult, cumbersome and slow as carried out by the machines at present known to the art. Our principal object is to achieve the method and the machine for effectively plating such articles in mass.

By this method and machine we aim to attain a uniformity, efiiciency and a quality of plating comparable at least, if not equal,

, to that attained in individual plating of larger articles.

lso we aim to attain-a speed of production and an efliciency and an economy existing in degree to the degree to which any of those factors are obtainable by individual treatment of the same articles.

Still further, it is our object to reduce to simplest form the feeding of the articles in mass to the machine, their agitaton in mass in their passage throu h the'machine and their removal in mass t erefrom, and at the same time,to make the mass plating operation as clean and as neat as possible both as respects the machine and as respects the products treated.

According to our method, we progress the articles throu h the plating bath in a mass of substantialg uniform thickness, of extensive area, preferably only one article deep.

line 8"8 of Figs. 1 and 2.

This mass we agitate without altering the thickness of the mass, an agitate uniformly throughout substantially the extensive area. We plate the mass throughout its area simultaneously and from a uniform distance, the

bath, we agitate the articles in mass to sub-' jcct all sides thereof substantially equally to the plating action, so that they emerge from the bath plated to a substantially uniform thickness. These ranks We maintain in unbroken groups transversely of the path throughout its extent. To facilitate the feed in ranks We feed the articles up-hill to their rank formation by giving them an agitating impetus always in the direction of the path through the bath.

The apparatus which we have found to be a component part of our method and which is shown in the accompanying drawings as the best embodiment now known to us, of which Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the machine at large.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of this machine. v

Figure 3 is a rear end view.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross section of the other end of the machine.v

Figure 5 is a transverse cross section on line 55 of Figure 4, and Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a greatly magnified portion of the upper left hand part of this cross section. Figure 6a is a detail sectional view taken between two adjacent agitator fingers vof Fig. 6. a

Figure 7 is a general three quarters perspective from above of a medial portion of the machine.

Figure 8 is a transverse cross section on A general survey of the drawings will disclose the fact that the machine of our invention comprises a plating bath, an endless travel conveyor, a means for feeding the articles in mass in'a uniform distribution upon the said endless belt conveyor, a longitudinally reciprocable agitator for the mass substantially paralleling the conveyor and uniformly distributed over thearea of the conveyor, cathodes in the form of bars paralleling the path of the conveyor and sub-merged in the mass of articles carried thereby, and anodes uniformly distributed over the area of the conveyor, about it and substantially uniformly spaced therefrom. Y

The bath 20 is carried in a tank 21 of elongated form. Within this bath is disposed an endless conveyor belt 22 the entire {body of i which, top and bottom, is submerged. Cylinders 23, the axes of which are supported in journals carried by the walls of the tank, carry .and drive the conveyor 22., One of the rollers 23 is longitudinally adjustable with ,respect to the other by device 24 from without the tank. The other is driven through the shaft connection 25 outside of the tank.

The upper reach of the belt 22 is supported from the side walls of the tank through cylin- 25 ders 23 mounted on axles supported by the sides of the tank at points equidistant from the bottom and therefore maintained in plane and by a table 26 extending longitudinally thereof and secured to the opposite sides of the tanks and is in substantially level form. The lower reach of the belt 22 finds support at intervals upon transverse rollers 27 and undue sag is therefore avoided. The belt is preferably of rubber or rubber composition or other insulating material and itself forms no part of the electrical circuit of the process. At the front end at the top of the tank'21 is arranged a transverse measuring device in the form of a groovedwheel or its equivalent 28.- The grooves of this wheel are of sulficient area transversely of the wheel to accommodate normally circumferentially but one nut at atime. Transversely through a length substantially equal to the width of the conveyor belt 22 whereby they may be accommodated in each groove, is a single transversely extending rank (speaking in military terms) of nuts. The over-arching relatively fixed sheathing 29 is aflixed to the tank and so juxtaposed to the periphery of the wheel 28 that any nuts lodged in the grooves-in excess of the single rank will be dislodged therefromby engagement with the advance edge 30'of the sheathing. A11 inclined play-way 31 is extended from the periphery of the wheel 28 on its front side downwardly to a line adj acent the front end of the top reach of" the belt 22. Asthe wheel 28 revolves in the direction of the arrow, the ranks of nuts which may be carried thereby are delivered one by one down the way 31 to the face of the belt. By means of direct shaft-connection 32 between the rear roll 23 and the wheel 28 the delivery, rank by rank, is efl'ected at a rate equal to the 55 .speed of forward movement of the belt 22 divided by the depth of the rank. Thereby a stantially one nut deep is maintained on the conveyor by transverse partitions 33 also like the-belt 22, made of insulating material at suitable intervals across its surface. It is important, however, that the ranks of nuts are not too closely packed between the transverse partitions, because this would interfere with the proper action of the agitating means to be described.

The nuts are delivered or otherwise placed in bulk upon a feed table 34 in advance of the feed w eel or measuring device 28. This table has a slight inclination up hill suflicient to prevent any gravity movement of the bulk toward the measuring wheel 28 and thereby prevent tendency to clog that wheel. Still further, this table is pivotally mounted at 35 upon a bracing structure 36 supported from tank 21 and also pivotally mounted at its front end on an axis 37 which is maintained in continuous oscillation by means of an eccentric drive from motor 38. Thus, the entire table 34 is agitated. Moreover, the rate of speed of the motor 38, the throw of the eccentric oscillating axis 37 and the inclination of the table 34 are altogether so adjusted with respect to the gravity action on the nuts, their mass and theother general conditions of adjustment under agitation upon the table 34 that they always receive from the agitation, a controlling impetus throwing them slightly upwardly and forwardly toward the measuring wheel 28 by appropriate degrees. In other words, with the direction of the eccentric as shown by the arrow the forward and upward impetus of the nuts is suificient to clear the advance portion of them at least from the table 34 on the upward part of the oscillation of the axis 37, to enable, the table to drop from contact with them during the controlling portion at least ofthe downward movement of oscillation, and to resume contact during the upward and forward motion thereof. This movement not only insures a shaking down of the bulk initially placed upon the front end of table 34 to an extensive mass substantially one deep, but also the feeding of the foremost nuts of the mass so shaken down into the immediately adjoining area of the measuring wheel 28. The'sheathing" 29 is so extended toward the table 34 as to leave open but one at a time of the feeding or K measuring grooves of the wheel. from busbars 39 arranged transversely of the top of tank 21 are cathode bars 40. These bars 40 substantially parallel to the path of movement of the conveyor through its extent are uniformly distributed in transversely spaced relation over its area, and lie in a plane parallelto the plane of the belt and Suspended Rather they assist in confining them to the path of movement and in the retaining of them in orderly rank formation which is necessary for proper plating and agitating action. The outermost of these bars closely adjoins the margins of the conveyor belt 22, thereby, as clearly appears in Fig. 6, constituting a boundary wall assisting in confining the outermost article to the path of movement intended and precluding other interference with the side walls of the tank or with the provided side guides 41 fixed to the side walls for the edges of the belt 22. These cathodes are in the form of iron rods, since the particular material with which the nuts are at present plated by my process is cadmium. I

Superimposed in the bath 20 above the conveyor belt a substantial distance but paralleling it and uniformly distributed over its area are a'plurality ofanode boxes 42 which contain a uniform distribution of anode bars 43 of cadmium. The boxes are of conducting material. Their supports 44 con nect with bus bars 45 supported like the bus bars 39 from the upper side walls of tank 20. Both anode and cathode bus bars are, of

course, properly insulated from each otherand from the tank itself.

, Intermediate the uniformly distributed area of anode bars 43 and the uniformly distributed cathode bars 40 is a uniformly distributed system of finger agitators 46. These are composed of rubber or other yielding insulating material downwardly extending and are formed in transverse connected groups 47 as clearly appears in the sections, particularl in Figs. 6 and 6a. The transverse groups 4 -of fingers 46 are disposed at intervals throughout the length of the path as are the anode and cathode bars and the transverse partitions 33 on the belt. The fingers are carried commonly by a longitudinally reciprocable frame of channel iron 48 suspended at its ends from the sides of the tank by means of suitable pivoted hangers in such manner as to have an agitating movement lon itudinally'of the path of movement of the elt 22 and substantially parallel thereto. This movement is supplied by the bell crank mechanism 49 driven from the rear end of shaft 25, through suitable crank and link connections as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The ends of the fingers uniformly engage the uniformly distributed mass of nuts at a depth appropriately related to the least height which a nut projects above the belt in any given position. The depth of engagement, the cross section of the fingers, their flexibility, and the stroke of reciprocation are so adjusted that the yieldin engagement of the ends of the fingers with t e nuts is quite suflicient to turn them about from one relative position to another without changing materially their locations on the conveyor belt or piling them upon each other. Thereby the surfaces of the nuts are variously presented, the liquid of the bath is prevented from pocketing, and the plating action is rendered uniform and thorough. To secure uniform plating, frequent turning of the nuts is essential, and of course, this cannot be achieved if they pile up on the belt, or are swept from one space between adjacent portions 33 to an adjacent space. Consequently, with the type of articles, i.,e., cap nuts disclosed, the proper height of the transverse partitions 33 is over half the vertical height above the belt of the maximum height of the nut in any given position thereof and the fingers 46 project downwardly into the nuts to a depth slightly lower than the tops of the bars 33. For proper agitation and timing of the nuts, it is necessarythat the reciprocation of the a itator finger frame 48 is at a substantially more rapid rate than the movement of the belt so that a given transverse line of fingers may sweep at each reciprocation through the space between adjacent transverse partitions or bars 33. Since the fingers are continuously bent by engagement with the nuts and transverse bars-33 now one way, now another in every direction, they require to be made of a section best suited to give long life under this severe usage. For the particulartype of article here treated, it was found that tapered fingers of generally round cross-section and merging into the base member connecting the transverse groups 47 by rounded surfaces gave the most satisfactory service. It will be noted that the transverse groups 47 may be very economicall made as by moulding a single tapered strlp of rubber orother yielding insulating material, which is clamped at the top between metal strips 47' to form a unit attached to the agitator frame channel 48 as by bolts to permit its ready removal for replacement or otherwise. 4

The length of the bath and of the belt, and the rate of progress of the nuts through the bath are all properly coordinated with re-- spect to the rate of plating desired'and with respect to the amount of electrical energy utilized in carrying it out. At the rear end of the conveyor belt is arranged a submerged hopper 50 in a position to receive the ranks of nuts as they round the wheel 30 and are drawn by gravity from'the face of the belt 22. Into the bottom of this hopper dips a bucket elevator 51 the buckets of which dip up the nuts and elevate them from the bath. They are discharged intoa washing apparahis 52 down which a stream of water or other washing fluid (not shown) may be played to relieve the nuts of the .liquid of the, bath.

This washing apparatus-is in the form of a number of alternating downwardly inclined by recovered and passed back into the bath 20. .The machine at large in its entirety is driven by motor 55 mounted on a pedestal 56.

This motor not only drives shaft from' which: are derived the motions of the conveyor belt wheels 23 and the measuring device 28 and the agitator 33' but also throu h the belt connection 58 the motion of the bucket elevator 51. Motor 38 drives table 34 independently for reasons of impetus adjustment. v

That this apparatus carries out the method of our invention and realizes in full the ad vantages we have set forth should be clearly apparent from this detailed description thereof. That it is susceptible of many modifications without departing from its generic spirit should be equally perceptible. Such modifications we claim as well as the embodi I ments disclosed and outlined.

versely thereof.

verse row 1. A machine for plating articles in mass comprising a'tank containing a plating bath, an endless belt conveyor submerged in said bath, and a measuring device delivering articles in mass to said conveyor in rows trans- 2. A machine for plating articles in mass comprisinga tank containing a plating bath,

an endless belt conveyor submerged in said bath, and a measuring device for articles in mass measuring said articles in rank formation and delivering said ranks transversely of said conveyor.

3. A machine for plating articles in mass comprising a tank containing a plating bath, an endless belt conveyor submerged in said bath, and a measuring device delivering articles in mass to said conveyor in rows transverse thereof and at a rate equal to the speed of thebelt divided by the depth of the trans- 4. A machine for plating articles in mass comprising a tank containing a plating bath, an endless belt conveyorsubmerged in said bath, means for uniformly distributing articles in mass to said conveyor, and an agitator device co-extensive with said conveyor in area and longitudinally reciprocable substantially p rallelto the path of movement thereof.

5. A machine for plating articles in mass comprising, a tank containing a plating bath,

.veyor during its progress, and agitating means uniformly distributed over the area of the conveyor and having an engagement with the articles to be plated suflicient to turn the articles but insuiiicient to pile them.

6. A machine for plating articles in mass comprising an endless conveyor belt, a tank containing plating bath in which said belt is submerged, means for uniformly distributing articles in mass to be plated to said conveyor, and relatively fixed cathode bars sub merged in the mass of articles in laterallyspaced relation substantially parallel to the path of movement of the conveyor.

7 A machine for plating articles in mass comprising an endless conveyor belt, a tank containing a plating bath in which said belt is submerged, means for uniformly distributing articles to be plated to said conveyor, and relatively fixed cathode bars submerged in the mass of articles in laterally-spaced relation substantially parallel to (the path of movement of the conveyor, together with mass-agitating means uniformly distributed over the area of the conveyor and reciprocable with respect thereto.

8. A machine for plating articles in mass comprising an endless belt conveyor, of longitudinally-extending, relatively fixed cathode bars substantially adjoining the margins of said belt conveyor and constituting retaining walls for the massed articles carried by the conveyor, and a tank containing a plating bath in which saidbelt and bars are submerged.

9. A machine for plating articles in mass comprising a tank an endless belt conveyor, anodes distributed over substantially the entire area of said belt conveyor in a plane substantially parallel thereto, but removed therefrom, relatively fixed cathode bars paralleling the conveyor and in a plane immediately adjoining the plane of the conveyor, uniformly distributed .agitating means. for the mass ofarticles carried by the conveyor reciprocable in a plane intermediate the anode and cathode planes, and. a plating bath in said tank in which said elements are commonly submerged.

10, A machine for plating articles in mass comprising an endless conveyor belt for the articles to be plated, a tank containing a plating bath in which said conveyor is submerged, and an up-hill mass-feeding device foi the articles to be plated agitated to engage the articles fed up hillto the conveyor always in a direction having a principal component toward the conveyor.

11-. A machine for plating articles in mass comprising an endless conveyor belt for-the articles tobe plated, a tank containing a plating bath in which said conveyor is subnerged, and an up-hill, mass-feedin device For the articles to be plated agitate to engage the articles fed up hill to the conveyor ilways in a direction having a principal oomonent toward the conveyor, together with L transverse measuring device receiving the Lrticles from the device and delivering them 0 the conveyor.

12. A machine for plating articles in mass :omprising a tank containin a plating bath, L11 endless belt conveyor submerged in said )ath, spaced transverse partitions on the belt, means for delivering ameasured quantity of u'ticles in a single layer in the space on the )elt between adiiacent partitions, and an agiator device su stantially co-extensive with he belt, and comprising spaced rows of yieldng fingers extending down into the layer )f articles on the belt, said agitator device )eing arranged to be reciprocated in the di-' action of mpvement of the belt at rate of novement more rapid thanthe movement of he belt. e

13. A'machine for plating articles in mass :omprising a tank containing a plating bath, Lll endless belt conveyor submerged in said path, transverse partitions on said belt, means ?or delivering a measured quantity ofarti- :les in a single layer in the space between idjacentpartitions, and an agitator device :ubstantially coextensive with the belt'and :omprising transverse rows of yielding fingers extending down into the layer of arti- N ales on the belt, said agitator device having ts rows of fingers so spaced with relation to he transversepartition on the belt and beng reciprocated in the directionof movenent of the belt at a rate of movement with elation to the movement of the belt and hrough a distance such that a given row of ingers may sweep through the entire space ietween transverse partitions at each recipro- :ation.

14. A machine for plating articles in mass, :omprising a tank c'ontainin a plating bath m endless belt. conveyor su mergedin said iath, means for supplyin the articles to be dated to the belt in a single layer, transverse )artitions on the belt for preventing iling 1p of the articles, and an agitator evice :omprising rows of yielding fingers proecting downwardly into the articles so that heir lower ends project below the tops of :aid transverse partitions, and means for 'eciprocating sai agitator device in the diectlon of movement of the belt. In testimony whereof they hereunto aflix heir signatures.

GEORGE L. KELLEY, CAROLUS .L. EKSERGIAN. 

